Soon, we may all be going on an AI holiday. But are they any good? Photo: DTCM
Soon, we may all be going on an AI holiday. But are they any good? Photo: DTCM
Soon, we may all be going on an AI holiday. But are they any good? Photo: DTCM
Soon, we may all be going on an AI holiday. But are they any good? Photo: DTCM

Can ChatGPT plan the perfect weekend in Dubai?


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ll know that ChatGPT is the artificial intelligence tool taking the world by storm.

Billed as the closest thing to human thinking, OpenAI's creation is capable of understanding natural human language. Users ask it questions, to which it generates a response. To date, it's been used for everything from completing job applications to writing music.

And, according to Canadian market researchers Longwoods International, 32 per cent of US travellers will probably use ChatGPT to help plan their next trip.

Here, The National asks it to organise a weekend visit to Dubai – but does it pass the test?

How the conversation unfolded

The National: Hi, can you please share an itinerary for a perfect weekend in Dubai, including things to do, hotels to stay in, dining options and suggestions to get around the city?

ChatGPT: Here's a comprehensive itinerary for a perfect weekend in Dubai, including the best days and times for each activity, hotel recommendations, dining options and transportation suggestions:

Day 1: Friday

Morning: Stay at a hotel in Downtown Dubai to have easy access to attractions like Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall. Recommended hotels include Armani Hotel Dubai, Address Downtown or Vida Downtown. Start your day early, around 8.30am, to visit Burj Khalifa. Pre-book your tickets online to avoid long queues and enjoy the stunning views from the observation deck.

ChatGPT rates the Armani Hotel Dubai as a good place to stay in the city. Photo: Armani Hotel Dubai
ChatGPT rates the Armani Hotel Dubai as a good place to stay in the city. Photo: Armani Hotel Dubai

Afternoon: For lunch, head to the Dubai Mall. Indulge in a variety of international cuisine options available in the mall. Some popular choices include Social House, Aprons & Hammers and Operation Falafel. After lunch, explore the mall's extensive shopping options, including luxury brands and local boutiques.

Evening: Take a taxi or Uber to the historic neighbourhood of Al Fahidi. Arrive around 4pm to avoid the midday heat. Visit the Dubai Museum to learn about the city's heritage and explore the traditional houses and art galleries in the area. Enjoy dinner at Arabian Tea House in Al Fahidi, known for its authentic Emirati cuisine and charming atmosphere.

Day 2: Saturday

Morning: Stay at a beachfront hotel along Jumeirah Beach to enjoy the beautiful coastline. Recommended options include Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Atlantis, The Palm or Burj Al Arab. Start your day with a visit to the Dubai Miracle Garden. Arrive when it opens at 9am to explore the stunning floral displays without large crowds.

Dubai Miracle Garden is a good place to visit, but it's only open seasonally, something that ChatGPT did not take into consideration. Antonie Robertson / The National
Dubai Miracle Garden is a good place to visit, but it's only open seasonally, something that ChatGPT did not take into consideration. Antonie Robertson / The National

Afternoon: Have brunch at one of the beachfront restaurants at Jumeirah Beach Residence. Some popular choices include Eggspectation, The Butcher Shop & Grill or Eggspectation. After brunch, relax on the beach or indulge in water sports activities available along the coast.

Evening: Head to Dubai Marina for a leisurely walk and enjoy the sunset views. Dine at one of the marina's waterfront restaurants, such as Pier 7, Ibn AlBahr or The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill.

Day 3: Sunday

Morning: Check out of your hotel and leave your luggage at the concierge. Visit the Dubai Frame early in the morning to avoid crowds. Arrive at around 9.30am to enjoy panoramic views of the city from the top.

Afternoon: Take a taxi or Uber to Deira for a traditional Arabian lunch at the Spice Souk. Enjoy local specialities at restaurants like Arabian Tea House or Al Ustad Special Kabab. Explore the nearby Gold Souk for exquisite jewellery and unique shopping experiences.

Evening: Return to your hotel to collect your luggage. Conclude your weekend with a relaxing dhow cruise dinner along Dubai Creek. Enjoy a buffet dinner while cruising past Dubai's iconic landmarks. Book an evening cruise departing around 7pm.

Dubai Frame is one of several landmarks that ChatGPT's suggests tourists should visit. Photo: DTCM
Dubai Frame is one of several landmarks that ChatGPT's suggests tourists should visit. Photo: DTCM

Transportation: Taxis and ride-hailing services like Uber and Careem are convenient for getting around Dubai. They are readily available and reasonably priced. Dubai's metro system is another efficient way to travel. Use the red line to access attractions in the city centre and the Palm Jumeirah. Consider purchasing an NOL card for easy payment on public transport.

Please note that this itinerary serves as a general guide, and it's always recommended to check the latest timings, availability and reservations for attractions and dining venues before your visit.

So, did ChatGPT plan the perfect Dubai weekend?

ChatGPT supplied a packed itinerary covering Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including recommendations for things to do, places to go and hotels to stay in, which is exactly what we asked for.

While AI tools are undoubtedly valuable for holiday planning, and likely to get more so as technology advances, they're not able to replace lived experiences that travel writers, locals and other holidaymakers can offer – at least not yet.
Hayley Skirka

When it came to transport options, the app provided a generic list of ways to get around Dubai rather than comprehensive instructions on the best ways to get from one suggested activity to the next, which would likely have been more helpful. However, more tailored follow-up questions could likely produce this information.

The bot gave some decent options, including places that many tourists are likely to want to see, such as Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, the Gold Souk and Dubai Frame. On the other hand, it missed several other attractions, including the Museum of the Future, the Dubai Fountains and Ski Dubai.

The app isn't going to win any awards for suggesting more experiential activities that allow travellers to get under the skin of the city. Things like visiting the galleries of Alserkal Avenue, careering over dunes on a desert safari, catching a show at Dubai Opera or taking a Dh1 abra ride across the creek are all activities that most travellers would want to partake in, but ChatGPT focused more on sightseeing.

ChatGPT did not suggest travellers get experiential during their visit. Photo: OceanAir Travel
ChatGPT did not suggest travellers get experiential during their visit. Photo: OceanAir Travel

Without any direction on budget, the tool's hotel suggestions were decent with some top choices including Armani Hotel Dubai, Atlantis, The Palm and the Burj Al Arab – but sadly the app didn’t leave travellers with any time to explore the facilities of the hotels, which seems like a big fail when guests could be paying thousands per night to check in at the sail-shaped "seven-star" hotel, or spending large to holiday at the hotel with the world’s largest waterpark. It also confused Atlantis, The Palm with being on Jumeirah Beach.

Dining options were the most disappointing part of ChatGPT’s suggested itinerary. While the tool did suggest eating at Arabian Tea House in Al Fahidi, a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, it suggested going here twice in three days, which seems excessive.

In the Dubai Mall – home to popular eateries like Din Tai Fung, Eataly and Logma – the app suggested dining at three casual restaurants, all of which are either temporarily or permanently closed.

On Saturday, the app suggested enjoying brunch, which is a good shout given that the social dining occasion is something of an institution throughout the city. However, it suggested dining at Eggspecation – a casual cafe – twice, and The Butcher Shop & Grill – a great South African steakhouse, but one that sadly doesn’t offer brunch.

In a city that’s known for its ever-evolving dining scene with everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to cheap street eats, travellers solely relying on ChatGPT's culinary suggestions are likely to be disappointed.

Arabian Tea House is a great place to dine when in Dubai, but ChatGPT had visitors going to the cafe twice in one weekend. Reem Mohammed / The National
Arabian Tea House is a great place to dine when in Dubai, but ChatGPT had visitors going to the cafe twice in one weekend. Reem Mohammed / The National

The AI tool also timetabled activities on the assumption that travellers could whizz around the city with no interruptions – unlikely given Dubai’s traffic. It also had visitors checking in to two hotels during a weekend visit, a schedule that would likely exhaust most.

Some information provided by ChatGPT was simply wrong or made no sense, such as the suggestion to bring your luggage on a dhow dinner cruise along the marina, or to pay a visit to Dubai Museum in Al Fahidi – which is closed for long-term renovations – or its idea to eat dinner at Ibn AlBahr at Dubai Marina – the Lebanese seafood restaurant is actually at Club Vista Mare on the Palm Jumeirah.

Our verdict on ChatGPT for planning your next getaway

Travellers looking to indulge in Dubai's culinary side or try new experiences will be disappointed by ChatGPT's itinerary suggestions. Photo: DTCM
Travellers looking to indulge in Dubai's culinary side or try new experiences will be disappointed by ChatGPT's itinerary suggestions. Photo: DTCM

There’s no denying that ChatGPT can be a great starting point for travellers planning trips to new destinations. It cuts out the endless results that users have to sort through when using search engines like Google to research destinations and offers up a focused selection of things to do and see in a city. If given more direction – such as asking it to plan a budget trip or a family-friendly schedule – the tool can further tailor suggestions to travellers' needs.

That said, people do need to fact-check suggestions, as they are not always accurate. And seasoned travellers looking to really get to know a city rather than zoom around town ticking off the bucket-list hotspots are likely to be disappointed following a ChatGPT-suggested itinerary. The same goes for foodies.

Of course, the tool offers a slightly different answer every time it's used so if you have plenty of preparation time ahead of your next trip, you can ask it for several plans and then pick the bits that appeal to you most.

For now, ChatGPT and similar AI tools are handy to have in your holiday planning arsenal, but if you’re looking to visit hidden gems, go to less-explored places or get first-hand tips about a destination, the bot should be exactly that – just one tool.

While AI is undoubtedly valuable for holiday planning, and likely to get more so as technology advances, they're not able to replace lived experiences and emotions that travel writers, locals and other holidaymakers can offer – at least not yet.

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

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Company%20profile
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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:

Juventus 1 Ajax 2

Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate

RESULTS

6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko

7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor

20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill

8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara

9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)

Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)

Saturday

Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)

Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)

Sunday

Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)

Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)

Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)

 

 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

THE SPECS

Touareg Highline

Engine: 3.0-litre, V6

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 340hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh239,312

ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

How to keep control of your emotions

If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.

Greed

Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.

Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.

Fear

The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.

Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.

Hope

While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.

Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.

Frustration

Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.

Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.

Boredom

Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.

Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
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It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

THE SPECS

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE

Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors

Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode

Power: 121hp

Torque: 142Nm

Price: Dh95,900

Reading List

Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung

How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever

Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays

How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

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IF YOU GO
 
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
 
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info

 Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.

MATCH INFO

Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)

Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm

Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm

Updated: August 27, 2023, 4:01 AM`